Whipple surgery with complications - can anyone relate?

Hello Lynx

Welcome to the group and I’m sorry to hear about your Dad’s slow recovery from the Whipple. There are certainly people who recover quickly from the surgery but I have also read of those who do take longer. 

You are clearly a great support for your Dad and the hospital seem to be caring well for him . I think taking one day at a time is the best way forward.

Squeaky

Hi Squeaky

Thanks for your response to my post and I certainly took your advice and tried to focus on one day at a time.

I thought I would post an update, just so that if anyone now or in the future is in the same position as my Dad or myself, they can read this post and be able to see that things have got better. 

Since 2 days ago Dad had a tube inserted into his nose to his stomach where the nursing staff aspirated the food that he had tried to consume which was not digesting. I have to say Dad did appear much better even just from the food being removed, they had reduced his amount of oxygen required. For anyone in the same position, I watched this being aspirated by the nurse and although I think it feels a little uncomfortable it wasn't a painful experience. We were also informed that the NJ tube would be inserted the day after as the team had assessed Dad as well enough to have this procedure which was a great positive for us.  

Dad had the NJ tube inserted yesterday and again is doing much better today. Dad physically looks much more well in himself and his oxygen is no longer required in the daytime (after a month of requiring this). Dad's cathetar was also removed. 

I'm hoping he will be home soon and finally feel like I can get a good nights sleep without worry!

Hi Lynx

Thanks for the update. That all sounds very promising and hopefully your Dad will be home soon.

Squeaky

My husband, age 65, was diagnosed with a rare cancer called GIST, which was found due to a gi bleed he was hospitalized for ( caused by the tumor itself) he was released 8 days and 13 units of blood later and sent to oncologist. The tumor was in the duodenum and if it spread would be untreatable and the only way to remove it was whipple surgery. He had the surgery July 12, 2023. He was in icu 23 days and total hospital stay of 50 days. It is 5 months later and he is still on TPN ( iv nutrition) and is only able to drink sips of water to take his medication. He can have a couple of sips of broth. But thats it. We are not sure what to expect from here. At this point we wish he never did it and would have took our chances. He is a farmer, usually up at daylight and home hours after sundown. Now he spends most days in bed with short rides here and there and rarely speaks to anybody. It has been life changing for us all.

Hi Dmichele72, 

Can I ask how your husband is doing now? We are currently in a similar situation with my father who is 80 years old and 5 months post whipple. He vomits daily and is on TPN. He has tried multiple medications and nothing helps. He also was very active prior to surgery and now spends most of his time in the recliner